January 19th 2015 dinner

O.K.  I have had a request for a "trippin with mom" blog to update on the fun with the Alzheimers journey.  Initially, I figured no one wants to hear about this.  It is not so fun.  But then I thought, "what the heck" it does me a lot of therapeutic good to write about this experience and might be interesting to some.  I am not experienced with this website, so apologize for the lack of photos and visual context.  I hope to improve on that part.  This is the first step...

Stopped by Ermeritus near the dinner hour.  Unfortunately, I found mom flouncing out of the common area in an agitated state.  Upon the anouncement of my arrival, she ran at me in irritation saying " I love you, and I'm so glad you're here but....I'm not very happy now"  (all with a thinly veiled anger).  " I have to pee right now!"

  We walked to her room which was locked and went back to seek a caregiver with a key.  I did ask him why the room was locked and he explained it was to keep out the wandering residents, which was immediately demonstrated as we entered the room and one of the other confused ladies tried to walk in with us.  (which has happened every other time I've been there).  Mom's reaction is usually physically violent towards these people who are trying to enter her room and she has had at least one incident where she hit someone.

I'm thinking that from now on, if I am there when this happens..... I am going to try to make a party!  I will invite the other demented person in and make a tea party or something.  We'll see.  The last time I just invited this cute little wandering demented lady to sit down next to us, mom said "don't you dare" and about jumped on me when I suggested it.  Sigh!!!  I think I will persevere.  I'm gonna make a dementia party.  We are going to be nice to one another.    

Oh.  I stayed for dinner.  Mom continues to be very critical of others.  Seems to be mostly of other women.  A male dinner companion can put his napkin on his head and she finds it humourous,  yet tonight she spotted another female resident who entered the dining hall and started whispering to me about how this woman walks around in bare feet and with a blanket.  how outlandish!

And this is coming from a woman who has been urintating on the floor?!!  She had to be "ret-trained" to use a toilet like a 2 yr old?  Yet she is still concerned about how other women are dressing for dinner?  I am officially living in crazy land.